Ukrainian soldiers who recently withdrew from the Kursk region in Russia have shared harrowing experiences of their retreat, describing it as a scene out of a horror film. The soldiers, who communicated via social media under pseudonyms for their safety, recounted a devastating pullback amidst relentless Russian attacks, including drone strikes that decimated military equipment.
One soldier, referred to as "Volodymyr," reported a chaotic situation in Sudzha on March 9, with Ukrainian forces struggling to evacuate as Russian drones targeted them. The main route between Sudzha and Ukraine's Sumy region, once relatively safe, had come under heavy enemy fire, making daytime travel perilous.
By March 11, another soldier, "Maksym," described efforts to prevent Russian forces from severing this critical supply line. He noted that Russia had amassed a large force, including North Korean troops, and deployed advanced drone units to control logistics routes. Maksym detailed how these drones, impervious to electronic countermeasures, wreaked havoc on Ukrainian equipment, causing severe congestion.
"Anton," a soldier stationed at the Kursk front headquarters, highlighted the impact of Russian drone superiority and the cutting of supply lines, which crippled the delivery of essential supplies. He recounted a perilous nighttime escape from Sudzha, emphasizing the constant drone threat.
Despite the grim outlook, a soldier named "Artem," recovering from injuries in a military hospital, offered a more optimistic perspective. He praised the Ukrainian forces' resistance near Loknya and noted that their efforts had created a buffer zone preventing Russian advances into Sumy.
Ukraine's military leadership maintains that their forces have repositioned to more advantageous locations and continue to hold ground in Kursk as long as it remains strategically viable. However, the situation has changed significantly since last August, with much of the territory initially gained now lost. President Volodymyr Zelensky recently stated that the operation had achieved its goal by diverting Russian forces from other areas, though the full cost remains uncertain.